England won’t sack Hodgson despite Three Lions exit

(AFP) – Roy Hodgson will stay on as England manager until 2016 despite his side’s chastening group-stage elimination from the World Cup, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke announced on Friday.

“We are supportive of Roy Hodgson and would like him to stay as manager,” Dyke said in comments reported by British media shortly before England’s exit was confirmed by Costa Rica’s 1-0 victory over Italy in Recife.

“We do not see any value in changing. We think Roy has done a good job and it is an approach over four years and we hope to do better in the European Championships.”

With England having lost 2-1 to Uruguay in their Group D clash in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Costa Rica’s shock win over Italy condemned the 1966 champions to their earliest World Cup exit for 56 years.

Hodgson, who succeeded Fabio Capello in May 2012, is under contract with the FA until the 2016 European Championship in France.

Speaking before England’s elimination had been confirmed, he said that he was not thinking about stepping down.

“I don’t have any intention to resign,” the 66-year-old said. “I’m bitterly disappointed, of course, but I don’t feel I need to resign, no.”

Despite England’s early departure from Brazil, Hodgson has been praised for picking a youthful squad and attempting to inject attacking flair into his side’s play.

England impressed in their opening loss to Italy in Manaus last Saturday, with 19-year-old Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling catching the eye, but they produced an error-strewn display against Uruguay.

“Everybody thought we played really well in the first game and narrowly lost,” added Dyke.

“They were narrow defeats, but it is for the football people to decide what went wrong.

“In the second game, it could have gone either way. We were not humiliated or anything like that.”

In the immediate aftermath of England’s loss to Uruguay, British bookmakers were offering odds of 9/4 that Hodgson would lose his job.

Hodgson was eager to emphasise the positives after the game, saying that “this group of players will do some good things in time”.

The former Liverpool manager also received backing from England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who said: “I’m proud to play for Roy Hodgson. He’s a great manager. He’s a very passionate man.”

Hodgson has led a nomadic existence as a coach, beginning his career in Scandinavia and coaching clubs including Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Udinese, Fulham, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion.

Renowned for his emphasis on organisation and team shape, he has also coached the national teams of Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, leading the former to their first World Cup for 28 years in 1994.

England will close their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, when the Central American side will need a point to secure top spot in Group D.